[Satellite Today – 5-28-08] Former Near Earth LLC President J. Armand Musey and his climbing team successfully reached the 29,028-foot summit of Mt. Everest, capping an arduous six-week expedition over some of the most challenging terrain in the world.
    Musey reported via satellite telephone that he and his eight fellow climbers reached the peak at 7:30 am local time on May 24 after a 10½-hour ascent through darkness from Camp 4 at 26,000 feet.
    Musey, who left Wall Street in 2007, was climbing Mount Everest, as both a personal goal and to raise money and awareness for the American Red Cross’s International Response Fund. To date, Musey has secured pledges to the Red Cross in excess of $40,000 in support of his climb, including $15,000 each from satellite operators SES and Intelsat. A number of other firms and individuals have pledged either cash contributions or donated satellite communications equipment or airtime to Musey’s effort.
    The Musey team is now trekking back to Katmandu, Nepal, and expects to arrive there by May 31.